--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you are for a long time at the top…" description: "\"If you are for a long time at the top you've basically achieved everything you wanted to. Then the ball's breaking stuff starts to be too much: it's no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/niki-lauda-9419_appearance_if-you-are-for-a-long-time-at-the-top-yo_2175147.jpg" --- # If you are for a long time at the top you've basically… ![“If you are for a long time at the top you've basically achieved everything you wanted to. Then the ball's breaking stuff starts to be too much: it's not what you do in the car, it's what you do outside the car - the press conferences, the interviews, the sponsorship commitments, the marketing…” quote by Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/niki-lauda-9419_appearance_if-you-are-for-a-long-time-at-the-top-yo_2175147.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/niki-lauda-9419_appearance_if-you-are-for-a-long-time-at-the-top-yo_2175147.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/niki-lauda-9419_appearance_if-you-are-for-a-long-time-at-the-top-yo_2175147.jpg) > “If you are for a long time at the top you've basically achieved everything you wanted to. Then the ball's breaking stuff starts to be too much: it's not what you do in the car, it's what you do outside the car - the press conferences, the interviews, the sponsorship commitments, the marketing appearances - that sadly go up to a level that the whole package, including the risks you take, the workload you do to get the car to work and for you to be quick in the races, it becomes too much.” [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success brings new pressures beyond the core activity, demanding broader skills and resilience. **In simple terms:** Winning adds extra responsibilities. Key Takeaway Prepare for life beyond the track. Themes success pressure life balance Mood reflective realistic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - championship racing - public speaking - endorsement deals - media scrutiny Key Concepts psychology media management risk Questions to Reflect On - How will you protect your core strengths amid expanding duties? - What strategies keep you grounded when fame grows? A Different Perspective The added duties can dilute focus on performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appearance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearance/) [Ball Breaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-breaking-4673421/) [Balls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balls/) [Breaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking/) [Breaking Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-stuff-3217706/) [Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) [Car Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car-work-3257581/) [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Conferences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conferences/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Including](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/including/) [Interviews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interviews/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Marketing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marketing/) [Packages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/packages/) [Press conferences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/press-conferences/) [Presses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presses/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Races](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/races/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Sponsorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sponsorship/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Workload](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workload/) ## Related quotes > [It is an important part of your anatomy. Don't break it as you get older because if you do it's kind of curtains. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-dennings/it-is-an-important-part-of-your-anatomy-don-t-break-it-as-you-get/) [Kat Dennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-dennings/) > [Unless you are breaking stuff, you are not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/unless-you-are-breaking-stuff-you-are-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [Move fast and break things. Unless you are breaking stuff, you are not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/move-fast-and-break-things-unless-you-are-breaking-stuff-you-are-not/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [He who understands, as always, can make his car work better than he who does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-smith/he-who-understands-as-always-can-make-his-car-work-better-than-he-who/) [Carroll Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-smith/) > [“She borrowed my car, often, while I was at work, even though she had her own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-m-hardin/she-borrowed-my-car-often-while-i-was-at-work-even-though-she-had-her/) [B.M. Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-m-hardin/) > [As an actor, you have to do things out of passion sometimes. I'm not in it for a lot of money. But I only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-stormare/as-an-actor-you-have-to-do-things-out-of-passion-sometimes-i-m-not-in/) [Peter Stormare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-stormare/) > [A lot of people think Formula One isn't a sport because everyone drives a car when they go to work in the morning. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenson-button/a-lot-of-people-think-formula-one-isn-t-a-sport-because-everyone/) [Jenson Button](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenson-button/) > [In America, people buy cars, and they put very little money down. They get a car, and they go to work. The work pays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/in-america-people-buy-cars-and-they-put-very-little-money-down-they/) [Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/) > [. .women are house as well as factory slaves and are forced to bear a double workload.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-zetkin/women-are-house-as-well-as-factory-slaves-and-are-forced-to-bear-a/) [Clara Zetkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-zetkin/) > [Flying solo, you have a fair workload. I'm not only flying the balloon but doing the navigation, communications, repairing the burners, taking care of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-fossett/flying-solo-you-have-a-fair-workload-i-m-not-only-flying-the-balloon/) [Steve Fossett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-fossett/) > [A major league pitching coach is a really difficult job. It takes a big commitment in terms of time, travel and workload.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cone/a-major-league-pitching-coach-is-a-really-difficult-job-it-takes-a/) [David Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cone/) > [It's a lot easier when you can share the workload to be honest. Especially if you really, really, trust in each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-nott/it-s-a-lot-easier-when-you-can-share-the-workload-to-be-honest/) [Georgia Nott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-nott/) > [I can't relax. I'm not happy unless I'm working on stuff. 'SNL' is always a huge workload, as enjoyable as it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/i-can-t-relax-i-m-not-happy-unless-i-m-working-on-stuff-snl-is-always/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [If you want to take it up a step and aim to become a competitive gymnast, you have to be mentally strong and prepared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-miller/if-you-want-to-take-it-up-a-step-and-aim-to-become-a-competitive/) [Shannon Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-miller/) > [I remember what it was like to be doing 'Lost' and how creatively immersive it was. I just couldn't really engage on anything else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-remember-what-it-was-like-to-be-doing-lost-and-how-creatively/) [Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/) ## More by Niki Lauda > [This aircraft tops everything. All the others look old as compared to this one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/this-aircraft-tops-everything-all-the-others-look-old-as-compared-to/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [A race isn't won until it's over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/a-race-isn-t-won-until-it-s-over/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [Jean Todt's system will never succeed, not even with Michael Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/jean-todt-s-system-will-never-succeed-not-even-with-michael-schumacher/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [Running an airline is a normal job. Racing is more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/running-an-airline-is-a-normal-job-racing-is-more/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [You appreciate that it is very easy to die and you have to arrange your life to cope with that reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/you-appreciate-that-it-is-very-easy-to-die-and-you-have-to-arrange/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [When I was in motor racing, I had taken the decision to risk my life. But when you run an airline, and more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/when-i-was-in-motor-racing-i-had-taken-the-decision-to-risk-my-life/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [The idea that people would work on themselves, who hadn't had an accident - I can't stand plastic surgery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/the-idea-that-people-would-work-on-themselves-who-hadn-t-had-an/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [Taking your first title is much more complicated and more difficult; it takes years of work - from go-kart to Formula One. The second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/taking-your-first-title-is-much-more-complicated-and-more-difficult/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [Running an airline is the most difficult job in the world. Racing was more dangerous for my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/running-an-airline-is-the-most-difficult-job-in-the-world-racing-was/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [I always want to know whether the customers are satisfied; customer satisfaction is, after all, my ultimate goal!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/i-always-want-to-know-whether-the-customers-are-satisfied-customer/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [I see myself as the mind of the business which takes care of every last detail; if you do not do this you cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/i-see-myself-as-the-mind-of-the-business-which-takes-care-of-every/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [Business is much less transparent than a win in a Grand Prix; in a race you drive over the finishing line first and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/business-is-much-less-transparent-than-a-win-in-a-grand-prix-in-a/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [You must always aim for further growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/you-must-always-aim-for-further-growth/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [I always go extreme ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/i-always-go-extreme-ways/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [Happiness is an enemy. It weakens you. Suddenly, you have something to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/happiness-is-an-enemy-it-weakens-you-suddenly-you-have-something-to/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) [Explore all 73 Niki Lauda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) ## More Appearance quotes > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/) [Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/) > [We must, however, note that what are usually called the high religions made their appearance within about twenty-five hundred years - most of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-scott-latourette/we-must-however-note-that-what-are-usually-called-the-high-religions/) [Kenneth Scott Latourette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-scott-latourette/) > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-turning-points-of-lives-are-not-the-great-moments-the-real-crises/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [You can have a nice body, dress with the latest fashion. But if you don't have self-confidence sweetheart, forget about looking sexy, you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/you-can-have-a-nice-body-dress-with-the-latest-fashion-but-if-you-don/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [I cannot be convinced that great artists are moralists. Art is first appearances, then meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-cannot-be-convinced-that-great-artists-are-moralists-art-is-first/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [So may the outward shows be least themselves; The world is still deceived with ornament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-may-the-outward-shows-be-least-themselves-the-world-is-still/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are one of many appearances of the thing called Life; we are not its perfect image, for it has no perfect image except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/we-are-one-of-many-appearances-of-the-thing-called-life-we-are-not/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [I'm OK with my appearance. I have made my peace with it after a long and frankly exhausting battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-m-ok-with-my-appearance-i-have-made-my-peace-with-it-after-a-long/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [There is no society or conversation to be kept up in the world without good-nature, or something which must bear its appearance and supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-no-society-or-conversation-to-be-kept-up-in-the-world/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Appearance records are pretty special. Mine means a lot to me, not only because I love stats, but because it shows that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james/appearance-records-are-pretty-special-mine-means-a-lot-to-me-not-only/) [David James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james/) > [Every man would fall in love with their voice, their lovely appearance, but no man would ever get past that. They'd never really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/every-man-would-fall-in-love-with-their-voice-their-lovely-appearance/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [I already know what things look like - I don't want description. People believe in appearances, and I don't believe in appearances at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-michals/i-already-know-what-things-look-like-i-don-t-want-description-people/) [Duane Michals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-michals/) [Browse all 2,446 Appearance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you are for a long time at the top you've basically achieved everything you wanted to. 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